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Self-Determination

What is Self Determination?

On June 7, 2018, the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) announced that the application for federal funding, or “Waiver”, of the Self-Determination Program (SDP) was approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This approval is a critical milestone toward providing people who receive regional center services, and their families, an alternative way to coordinate their services.  The Self-Determination Program is intended to offer people more freedom and control over how their services are provided and more freedom and control in who supports them.

Self-Determination began in California almost twenty years ago as a small pilot project at five regional centers. Then in October of 2013, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., signed Senate Bill 468, into law. This law established a statewide Self-Determination Program that adheres to the following principles to ensure those who participate have:

Freedom – to exercise the same rights as all citizens; to establish, with freely chosen supporters, family and friends, where they want to live, with whom they want to live, how their time will be occupied, and who supports them;

Authority – to control a budget in order to purchase services and supports of their choosing;

Support – including the ability to arrange resources and personnel, this will allow flexibility to live in the community of their choice;

Responsibility – which includes the ability to take responsibility for making decisions in their own lives and accept a valued role in their community, and

Confirmation – in making decisions in their own lives by designing and operating the system that they rely on.

Who is eligible for the Self-Determination program?

For the first three years, the number of participants in the Self- Determination Program is capped at 2,500 individuals throughout the state. FDLRC currently has 75 individuals or families enrolled in the program for the first three years. After the three year phase-in period, the program will be available to all eligible persons served by the regional center and their families on a voluntary basis with no limit on the number of participants. The program will become available to all regional center clients in June 2021. 

Enrollment Process – Beginning in June 2021, interested participants will have to inform their service coordinators of their interest in the Self Determination Program. Interested participants will have to attend a virtual mandatory orientation through Lanterman’s traning forum, ARCALearn, available in English or Spanish

FDLRC Self-Determination Program 1-Page Brochure

 


Self-Determination Video Series

Please take a look at our series of short informational videos for more information about transitioning to the self-determination program, resources, financial management services and more.

Watch Videos >

 


 


More Information

SDP Local Advisory Committee


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Benefits and Principles of SDP


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Independent Facilitators & Financial Management Services


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Orientation Sessions


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